Angel Di Maria signing for Manchester United from Real Madrid last summer

It shouldn’t have turned out this way. On 26th August 2014, Manchester United pulled off the biggest transfer in British history – the signing of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid for £59.7million.

But eleven months can be a long time in football and at this moment in time, it is believed that the Argentine is on the brink of signing for French champions PSG for £46.1 million. So where did it all go wrong? Why has it not worked out and are Manchester United making a mistake in selling their number seven?

David De Gea is available on a free transfer next season with United standing firm at present

Jean-Marc Bosman. Who’d have thought in the build up to December 15th 1995 at the European Court of Justice that the freedom of movement for players would change forever – with footballers now having the ability to run down their contract and leave for nothing at the end of their agreement. Edgar Davids and Steve Mcmanaman were two of the early adopters as they left Ajax and Liverpool for AC Milan and Real Madrid, respectively, for absolutely nothing. The clubs that had nurtured their talents since they were kids would not receive a penny for their efforts.

Manchester United are now, and have been for some time, in a dilemma over David De Gea. Should United let David De Gea go for a cut down fee based upon the duration of his current deal OR should United stick two fingers up at Real Madrid and keep De Gea for one more season? Surely, if United are to challenge for honours next season, it has to be the latter.

Bastian Schweinsteiger takes on the legendary Andrea Pirlo in the Champions League

Manchester United have signed a player. Not just any player, but a player of real pedigree who has won the lot. Not even Edward Woodward impersonating Basil Fawlty in the directors lounge could send this one south. Bastian Schweinsteiger will be a Manchester United player come the start of the Premier League season following the news that Bayern Munich had accepted a bid, believed to be around £15million, for the player who is now on his way to Manchester for a medical. 536 appearances for Bayern, eight Bundesliga titles, seven German cups, a European Cup win and of course that World Cup final victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina last June.

United have signed a player, who although is entering the final stage of his career as he turns 31 next month, who will bring experience and class to a side desperate for leadership. With the pursuit of Sergio Ramos still on the cards – it is clear that Louis van Gaal wants to fill his new look United side with leaders.

Ander Herrera has had an impressive first season at Manchester United, scoring eight goals in thirty one appearances in the process. His dominant display in the 2-1 victory over Liverpool back in March. Herrera, who signed for £29million last summer from Athletic Bilbao, continues to flourish in the centre of midfield and struck up an impressive partnership with fellow Spaniard, Juan Mata.

A sight United fans became accustomed to; Robin van Persie scoring the winner

Ohh Robin van Persie. A booming chant that would have Old Trafford rocking, right from the start with that beautifully taken left footed strike against Fulham on his home debut right up to his last for the club, in the 3-1 victory over Burnley in February. The Dutchman has been a wonderful signing for Manchester United and his time at the club will be looked back on fondly by all who saw him in a United shirt. His debut season was one of the best I’ve ever seen for a player joining the club and although he would never reach the same heights again, his £24million move from Arsenal was well worth the investment.

Harry Kane has been linked with a £40 million move from Spurs to United

When Trevor Francis signed for Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City for over £1 million (it was actually £1,180,000) it absolutely smashed the previous British transfer record, which stood for a solitary month. Francis became the first ever £1 million player to play on these shores. The forward, who scored twelve goals in fifty two games for England, went on to win two European Cups with Brian Clough – the only club team ever to win a continental trophy more times than their domestic league title.

1979 seems a far cry ago, but the same criticism, shock and cynicism still apply to the expensive football transfers of the day. At the time, Paulo Rossi held the world transfer record, when he moved to Juventus – but the valuation of Francis proved to be a telling moment in British football, considering David Mills became the first half million pound player the month previous.

Since then we’ve seen Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoinge, Andy Cole, Dennis Bergkamp, Seba Veron, Rio Ferdinand, Robinho and Gareth Bale break the British transfer record (a player be transferred into or from the English top flight) with astronomical fees being exchanged. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur’s young and prolific goal scorer, has been linked with a £40million move to Manchester United – why after one brilliant season would United part with nearly half the money made from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo for a player with bags of potential but limited first team action?

In a post-season that United fans can expect to see plenty of arrivals and departures, it seems inevitable that Rafael da Silva has played his last game for the club. Having lost his place in the side to Antonio Valencia, he last started a game away at Yeovil on the first weekend of 2015 and a series of minor injuries, the last being cracked ribs whilst playing for the U21 side in April, have ensured there wasn’t even the opportunity for a farewell appearance.

Marouane Fellaini has become an important part of the Manchester United first team

The season’s conclusion is very much on the horizon following a whirlwind of a campaign that saw Manchester United reclaim back a Champions League spot. United will again be at the table of European football’s elite, providing of course Louis van Gaal’s men can overcome the awkwardness of the initial canapes, the dreaded preliminary round.

Lets forget that of course on what is today a carnival of football and indeed Le King’s 49th birthday. United’s manager will finally have a break following season that included guiding the Netherlands to the brink of the World Cup final, Luke Shaw will no doubt be going easy on the burgers following last summer’s debacle and of course the crazy time of the year that is the summer transfer window – where 17 year old spotty teenagers take on the alias of a football agent, hidden behind the mask of @transferguy with the aim to amass a significant social following having spouted absolute nonsense.

With United travelling to relegation bound Hull City, and of course ex-captain Steve Bruce, where the whole nations whispers – “Can Hull City actually beat Manchester United having not beaten them since 1974 considering the inevitability of yet another Newcastle United defeat?”. Its a long whisper. But that is indeed all there is left to play for. United will surely not lose to a Hull City side, which have been turned over the past three times the club has come to town. This also includes a final day victory over relegation threatened Hull, week before the 2009 Champions League final – where United played a weakened side. Hull City and orange faced Phil Brown stayed up that day, but Bruce faces a much more difficult task.

With the season drawing to a close, take a a look at our five concluding points for the 2014/15 season.

Manchester United, who have all but qualified for the Champions League next season, do battle once again with FA Cup finalists Arsenal in a game which could see the home side swap places with the Londoners with a victory. United will be without their skipper, Wayne Rooney, who is still suffering from picking up a dead leg injury last weekend against Crystal Palace. This could mean a start for ex-Arsenal skipper, Robin van Persie, who has no doubt struggled for form since Sir Alex Ferguson departed at the end of his quite brilliant debut season.

Luke Shaw is also set to miss the game following his injury in the fixture last weekend. Louis van Gaal also spoke of the upcoming Euro U21 tournament in the summer, which he feels Shaw should miss in order for his body to recover.

Around this time of year there are usually blogs effusive with praise for Warren Joyce and what he’s been able to achieve over the course of the season with the United U21 side. Here’s another one, except this year has arguably been even more of a challenge than usual.